Wireless communication method and system for establishing a multimedia message service over a WLAN

ABSTRACT

A wireless communication system for supporting multimedia services (MMS) provided to a user of a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) which communicates with the wireless communication system. The wireless communication system includes a third generation partnership program (3GPP) universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), a wireless local area network (WLAN) and an MMS server. The MMS server stores at least one MMS message for the WTRU in a memory until the WTRU retrieves the message. The 3GPP UMTS includes an internet protocol short message gateway (IP-SM-GW) having a short message service (SMS) proxy. The WTRU is registered with the SMS proxy to establish SMS connectivity, and is also registered with the MMS server to establish MMS connectivity. The WTRU is notified when the MMS server receives an MMS message for the WTRU. The WTRU then retrieves the MMS message from the memory of the MMS server.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/592,856, filed Jul. 30, 2004, which is incorporated by reference asif fully set forth herein.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is related to a wireless communication systemincluding at least one wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a ThirdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP) universal mobiletelecommunications system (UMTS), a multimedia service (MMS) server anda wireless local area network (WLAN). More particularly, the presentinvention enables the WTRU to register with the 3GPP UMTS and the MMSserver such that the WTRU may retrieve MMS messages from the MMS serverover the WLAN.

BACKGROUND

The implementation of WLANs in wireless communication systems hasexpanded dramatically to replace wired computer networks. Using a WLAN,an end user may gain benefits such as flexibility and freedom ofmovement. The WLANs provide faster bit rates and are cheaper becausethey operate on an unlicensed band. Additionally, the current WLANarchitecture lacks the ability and mechanisms to page the WTRU to ensureits presence for the delivery of Internet-based services.

Existing 3GPP UMTS systems provide WTRU users with access toInternet-based services such as MMS. MMS is a store-and-forward methodof transmitting graphics, video clips, sound files and short textmessages, (i.e., emails), over wireless networks. It is desirable toimplement a wireless communication system which provides 3GPP-basedservices using a WLAN interworking with a 3GPP system.

SUMMARY

The present invention is implemented in a wireless communication systemfor supporting MMS over a 3GPP UMTS interworking with a WLAN. The 3GPPUMTS includes a short message service—service center (SMS-SC), anSMS-gateway mobile switching center (SMS-GMSC)/SMS-interworking mobileswitching center (MSC) (SMS-IWMSC), a home location register (HLR)/homesubscriber server (HSS), an authentication, authorization, andaccounting (AAA) server, an IP short message gateway (IP-SM-GW) havingan SMS proxy and access to an IP address database, and a packet datagateway (PDG). The 3GPP UMTS and WLAN access an MMS server via theInternet.

A WTRU establishes an SMS tunnel connection between the 3GPP UMTS andthe WLAN via the IP-SM-GW and the packet data gateway (PDG). The SMStunnel connection is established to support MMS over the WLAN. The WTRUregisters with the SMS Proxy within the IP-SM-GW to establish SMSconnectivity. The WTRU also registers with the MMS server and providesits mobile station international ISDN number (MSISDN), (i.e., telephonenumber). When an MMS message is received by the MMS server, the MMSserver sends an SMS message to the WTRU via the WLAN using its MSISDN.The MMS server stores the MMS message in a memory until the WTRUretrieves it. The SMS message informs the user of the WTRU that an MMSmessage has been received. The user of the WTRU accesses an associatedMMS account and retrieves the MMS message.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more detailed understanding of the invention may be had from thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment, given by way ofexample, and to be understood in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless communication system including a3GPP UMTS interworking with a WLAN in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the wireless communication systemof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a method for establishing MMS over a WLAN byproviding a WTRU user's telephone number when registering with a MMSserver in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a method for establishing MMS over a WLAN byproviding a WTRU user's IP address when registering with an MMS serverin accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereafter, the terminology “WTRU” includes but is not limited to a userequipment (UE), a mobile station, a fixed or mobile subscriber unit, apager, or any other type of device capable of operating in a wirelessenvironment.

The present invention is implemented in a wireless communication system100 for supporting MMS, as shown in FIG. 1. The wireless communicationsystem 100 includes a 3GPP UMTS 105, a WLAN 110 and at least one WTRU115 which establishes MMS connectivity by registering with an MMS server125 over the Internet 120 in accordance with the present invention. TheMMS server 125 includes a memory 130 for storing MMS messages accessibleby the WTRU 115.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a wireless communication system 200 whichsupports MMS in accordance with the present invention. The system 200includes a 3GPP UMTS 105 including an SMS-SC 210 which providesmultimedia services via the Internet 120, an SMS-GMSC/SMS-IWMSC 215, anHLR/HSS 220, an AAA server 225, an IP-SM-GW 230 having an SMS proxyplatform 232 and access to an IP address database 235, and a PDG 240.

The SMS-GMSC/SMS-IWMSC 215 has two functions: an SMS-GMSC function andan SMS-IWMSC function. The SMS-GMSC function receives a short messageand interrogates the HLR/HSS 220 for routing information. The SMS-IWMSCfunction forwards short messages received from the WTRU 115 to theSMS-SC 210 and the MMS server 125 via the Internet 120.

The WLAN 110 provides MMS to at least one WTRU 115. The HSS/HLR 220communicates with the AAA server 225 which stores information relatingto which WTRUs can access the WLAN 110, what services the WTRUs 115 arepermitted to use, and accounting records for each WTRU 115. Furtherdetails of HSS/HLR/AAA operation may be found in co-pending applicationSer. No. 11/112,503 entitled “REPORTING TERMINAL CAPABILITIES FORSUPPORTING SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE,” which was filed on Apr. 22, 2005, andis incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a process including method steps forestablishing MMS over a WLAN 110 by a user providing the telephonenumber of the WTRU 115 when registering with the MMS server 125 inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In step 305, anSMS tunnel connection is established through the WTRU 115, the WLAN 110and the PDG 240. In step 310, the records of the HLR 220 are updated.The HLR 220 has access to information needed to locate the WTRU 115 andhow to route the incoming MMS service. When the WTRU 115 is registeredto receive its SMS and MMS services via the WLAN 110, the HLR 220returns the IP-SW-GW address in response to receiving a query regardingthe location of the WTRU 115 specified by the MSISDN included in the SMSmessage.

In step 315, the WTRU 115 is registered with the SMS proxy 232 toestablish SMS connectivity. In step 320, the WTRU is registered with theMMS server 125 to establish MMS connectivity. The user of the WTRU 115may provide a telephone number, (i.e., MSISDN), associated with the WTRU115 to the MMS server 125. When a new MMS message arrives at the MMSserver 125, the MMS server 125 sends an SMS message to the WTRU 115alerting the user of the WTRU 115 that there is an MMS message awaitingretrieval at the MMS server 125 (steps 325 and 340). The SMS message isrouted by retrieving routing information, (i.e., the PDG/SMS serveraddress associated with the WTRU 115), from the HLR/HHS 220 and/or theAAA server 225 (steps 330, 335). In step 345, the WTRU 115 retrieves theMMS message from the memory 130 of the MMS server 125.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an IP process including method steps forestablishing MMS over a WLAN 110 by providing a WTRU user's IP addresswhen registering with the MMS server 125 in accordance with anotherembodiment of the present invention. In step 405, an MMS tunnelconnection is established between the WTRU 115 and the WLAN 110. In step410, the records of the HLR 220 are updated in a similar fashion asdescribed with respect to step 315. In step 415, the WTRU 115 isregistered with the MMS server 125 using an IP address associated withthe WTRU 115. In step 420, a new MMS service is established and the userof the WTRU 115 is alerted that there is an MMS message awaitingretrieval at the MMS server 125 (step 420). In step 425, the WTRU 115retrieves the MMS message from the memory 130 of the MMS server 125.

If the WTRU 115 remains idle for an extended period of time, theconnection established between the WTRU 115 and the WLAN 110 may beterminated.

The WTRU 115 periodically registers with the SMS proxy 232 and/or theMMS server 125 to maintain the connection between the WLAN 110 and theMMS server 125.

The user of the WTRU 115 may initiate a service termination request toterminate any pending activities over the WLAN 110.

Although the features and elements of the present invention aredescribed in the preferred embodiments in particular combinations, eachfeature or element can be used alone (without the other features andelements of the preferred embodiments) or in various combinations withor without other features and elements of the present invention.

1. In a wireless communication system including a third generation partnership program (3GPP) universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) including an internet protocol short message gateway (IP-SM-GW) having a short message service (SMS) proxy, a multimedia service (MMS) server and a wireless local area network (WLAN), a method for supporting MMS provided to a user of a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) which communicates with the wireless communication system, the method comprising: (a) registering the WTRU with the SMS proxy to establish SMS connectivity; (b) registering the WTRU with the MMS server to establish MMS connectivity; (c) notifying the WTRU when the MMS server receives a MMS message for the WTRU; and (d) the WTRU retrieving the MMS message from the MMS server.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) further comprises establishing an SMS tunnel connection between the WTRU and the WLAN.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) further comprises providing a user telephone number associated with the WTRU to the MMS server.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises the MMS server sending an SMS message to the WTRU notifying the user that there is an MMS message waiting to be retrieved from the MMS server.
 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising: (e) establishing an MMS tunnel connection between the WTRU and the WLAN.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) further comprises providing an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the WTRU to the MMS server via the Internet.
 7. A wireless communication system for supporting multimedia services (MMS) provided to a user of a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) which communicates with the wireless communication system, the system comprising: (a) a third generation partnership program (3GPP) universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), the 3GPP UMTS having an internet protocol short message gateway (IP-SM-GW) including a short message service (SMS) proxy; (b) a wireless local area network (WLAN); (c) an MMS server in communication with the 3GPP UMTS and the WLAN; (d) means for registering the WTRU with the SMS proxy to establish SMS connectivity; and (e) means for registering the WTRU with the MMS server to establish MMS connectivity, wherein the MMS server notifies the WTRU when the MMS server receives a MMS message for the WTRU, and the WTRU retrieves the MMS message from the MMS server.
 8. The wireless communication system of claim 7 further comprising: (f) means for establishing an SMS tunnel connection between the WTRU and the WLAN.
 9. The wireless communication system of claim 7 wherein the user of the WTRU provides a user telephone number associated with the WTRU to the MMS server to register the WTRU with the MMS server.
 10. The wireless communication system of claim 7 wherein the MMS server comprises: (i) a memory for storing MMS messages; and (ii) means for sending an SMS message to the WTRU notifying the user that there is an MMS message waiting to be retrieved from the memory.
 11. The wireless communication system of claim 7 further comprising: (f) means for establishing an MMS tunnel connection between the WTRU and the WLAN.
 12. The wireless communication system of claim 7 wherein the user of the WTRU provides an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the WTRU to register the WTRU with the MMS server via the Internet. 